Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan today released the following statement in response to reports that President Trump is planning to formally withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement.

“In a stunning abandonment of American Leadership aboard, President Trump is poised to join the ranks of Syria and Nicaragua, making the United States only the third country on Earth not to participate in the historic Paris Climate Change Agreement. This is a disastrous decision. It hurts places like Ohio, where the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy economy could bring jobs back to our communities. It hurts our planet by once again continuing to ignore the perils of global climate change. And finally it hurts our national security. We know that climate change can amplify or worsen tensions that lead to conflict such as food and water shortages. Since 2010 the U.S. military has designated climate change as a crucial factor to consider in future national security planning. President Trump’s insistence on ignoring, muzzling, or twisting scientific research to pretend climate change is not an issue puts us all in immediate and long term danger. Future generations will not look kindly on this decision, nor should they. This is a sad day for our nation and for the world,” said Congressman Ryan.